THIRUVANANTHAPURAM l saturday l april 01, 2023 l `9.00 l PAGES 16 l late city EDITION Jury indicts Trump in criminal case, setback for his prez race dON ALLEGEDLY PAID $130,000 HUSH MONEY Daniels claimed she had a sexual encounter with Trump at a Lake Tahoe hotel in 2006. Trump’s former attorney Michael Cohen reportedly paid her $130,000 a month before the 2016 election in exchange for her silence about the alleged affair. Hush money payment isn’t illegal in the US. Trump is being charged with falsifying business records to make the payment | P9 A grand jury on Thursday voted to indict the former US president for paying porn star Stormy Daniels to buy her silence over an alleged affair 30 Expected to be arraigned on Tuesday ■ The US president from 2017 to 2021 is expected to fly from his home in Florida to New York on Monday and be arraigned in court on Tuesday ■ The indictment remains under seal and it is not clear what crimes and how many criminal counts Trump has been charged with ■ With this, Trump becomes the first ex-US prez to face criminal charges Trump faces that many counts related to business fraud, according to CNN CHENNAI ■ MADURAI ■ VIJAYAWADA ■ BENGALURU ■ KOCHI ■ HYDERABAD ■ VISAKHAPATNAM ■ COIMBATORE ■ KOZHIKODE ■ THIRUVANANTHAPURAM ■ BELAGAVI ■ BHUBANESWAR ■ SHIVAMOgGA ■ MANGALURU ■ TIRUPATI ■ TIRUCHY ■ TIRUNELVELI ■ SAMBALPUR ■ HUBBALLI ■ DHARMAPURI ■ KOTTAYAM ■ KANNUR ■ VILLUPURAM ■ KOLLAM ■ TADEPALLIGUDEM ■ NAGAPATTINAM ■ THRISSUR ■ KALABURAGI SACHIN K U M AR @ Mumbai IN a move that could bring cheer to individual investors reeling under high inflation, the Centre on Friday raised the interest rates on most small savings schemes by 10-70 bps for the April-June quarter. After the revision, the rates on these savings schemes now range from 4% to 8.2%. The government’s decision to hike rates reflects the hardening of interest rates in the economy . The highest hike is seen in the National Savings Certificate, which will now attract a decent 7.7%, up from 7% earlier, for the April 1-June 30, 2023 period. The rate for the popular girl child savings scheme, Sukanya Samriddhi, has been increased to 8% from 7.6%. The new rate for Senior Citizen Savings Scheme — its maximum investment limit has been raised to `30 lakh from `15 lakh — and Kisan Vikas Patra (KVP) is 8.2% (8% before) and 7.6% (7.2%), respectively KVP . will now mature in 115 months against 120 months earlier. After the revision, the oneyear term deposit with post offices would earn 6.8%, up from Incentivising small savings Existing rate Savings deposit 4% 1-year term deposit 6.6% 2-year term deposit 6.8% 3-year term deposit 6.9% 5-year term deposit 7% 5-year recurring deposit 5.8% Senior Citizen Savings Scheme 8% Monthly Income Account Scheme 7.1% National Savings Certificate 7% Public Provident Fund Scheme 7.1% Kisan Vikas Patra 7.2% Sukanya Samriddhi Scheme 7.6% 6.6% before, the two-year deposit will offer 6.9% (6.8%), three-year deposit will give 7% (6.9%) and five-year deposit will offer 7.5% interest compared to 7% earlier. The rate for Public Provident Fund has been retained at 7.1% and that of the savings deposit at 4%, while the rates of Post Office Monthly Income Scheme has been raised by 30 bps to 7.4%. The monthly scheme’s maximum deposit limit has been enhanced to `9 lakh from `4 lakh for single account holders. The finance ministry also notified Mahila Samman Savings Certificate — a new savings Instrument New rate 4% 6.8% 6.9% 7% 7.5% 6.2% 8.2% 7.4% 7.7% 7.1% 7.5% 8% scheme for women which will offer 7.5% interest rate. The government reviews the interest rates on small savings schemes every quarter and this is the third time in the past nine months that the ministry has hiked the rates for these instruments. The latest hike was on expected lines as interest rates have moved up in the broader economy over the past few months. The Reserve Bank of India has raised its repo rate by 250 bps since May 2022 in a bid to tame inflation, which remains about its comfort zone of comfort zone of 6%. Fresh violence in Howrah; month-old plot, says Didi P r o n a b M o n d a l @ Kolkata Fresh brick-batting was reported in Howrah’s Shibpur area on Friday a day after vio, lence and arson broke out there during a Ram Navami procession. At least three police personnel were reported injured in the stoning. The situation was brought under control after a police lathi-charge. Prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC were imposed and a contingent of the Rapid Action Force was deployed in the area. Concerned over the situation, Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose, who had earlier taken up the matter with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. In all, 45 people have been arrested. The violence also led to political sparring. Mamata alleged that the route of Thursday’s procession was deliberately changed to target a minority community-dominated pocket. She blamed the violence on the BJP, Bajrang Dal and other affiliated outfits. E x p r e s s Ne w s Se r v i c e @ Ahmedabad The Gujarat High Court on Friday quashed a seven-yearold order of the Central Information Commission (CIC), directing the Gujarat University to provide infor mation on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s degree to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Justice Biren Vaishnav also slapped a cost of `25,000 on Kejriwal and refused to stay the order despite a request by his lawyer Percy Kavina. The Aam Aadmi Party later said it would appeal against the order. The court said the CIC was well aware that it was a fishing and roving enquiry since it did , not specify any time limit for compliance. Yet, it chose to pass the order. Despite the degree in question being put on the website of the University “and despite this fact being made expressly clear” before the court during the hearing, Kejriwal persisted with the matter, one reason why cost was imposed on him, the judge reasoned. In April 2016, the then CIC M Sridhar Acharyulu had direct- LOKAYUKTA SPLIT, CMDRF case goes to FULL BENCH decision to provide financial assistance to the families of late leaders, Failing to reach a consensus over NCP’s Uzhavoor Vijayan and former the question of its competency to in- Chengannur MLA K K Ramachanvestigate the decisions of the state dran Nair (CPM), and policeman P cabinet, a two-member bench Praveen, who died in a road of the Kerala Lokayukta on accident while escorting Friday referred to its full former CPM state secretary bench the politically signifiKodiyeri Balakrishnan, cant case pertaining to alsmacked of favouritism. He leged misuse of the CMDRF, had also alleged that the matinvolving Chief Minister Piter of providing assistance Pinarayi Vijayan n a r ay i Vi j aya n a m o n g was not included in the agenothers. da of the cabinet meeting Lokayukta Cyriac Joseph and demanded the ouster of and Upa Lokayukta Harunthe CM and the ministers ul-Rashid also had a “differ- The further probe concerned. ence of opinion” over the The hearing in the case by three-member merits of the allegations bench should finish was held from February 5 to in a time-bound raised regarding the misuse March 18, 2022. However, the of the CM’s Distress Relief manner. I will move verdict was delayed for althe HC or even the Fund. The date of posting of most a year following which the case before the new SC to get this done the petitioner approached bench, which will also have the High Court, which directR S Sasikumar, Upa Lokayukta Babu Mathed him to approach the petitioner ew P Joseph on board, will be Lokayukta instead. decided later. As per the Kerala Lok Ayukta Act of The complaint filed by former Ker- 1999, the verdict of the anti-graft omala University syndicate member R S budsman is legally binding on the gov● More on P4 Sasikumar in 2018 had alleged that the ernment.  Shubman Gill scored 63 off 36 balls to guide Gujarat Titans to a five-wicket win over Chennai Super Kings in the first IPL match of the season in Ahmedabad on Friday. Opener Ruturaj Gaikwad’s 50-ball 92 had helped CSK to 178 for 7 in 20 overs | PTI E X P R ESS R EA D Novelist Sarah Kalakshetra case: Thomas dies Stalin vows action T’Puram: Short story writer and novelist Sarah Thomas passed away on Friday. She was 88. She has written 17 novels and over 100 short stories. She has won many awards, including the Kerala Sahitya Akademi award. The funeral will be held at Pattoor Mar Thoma Church Cemetery on Saturday | P4 Chennai: Tamil Nadu CM M K Stalin has assured a proper probe into the sexual harassment charges levelled against some faculty members of Kalakshetra Foundation and action against the culprits. His statement in the assembly came on a day when over 100 students submitted complaints | P5 16 pages, including 4 pages of THIRUVANANTHAPURAM Express E x p r e ss Ne ws Se r v i c e @ Bengaluru IN a shocking incident, a 19-year-old girl was allegedly kidnapped and gangraped by four men in a moving car for over five hours in Bengaluru. The incident took place under the Koramangala police station limits on March 25 night. Four persons have been arrested. The police said the girl, who works with a private firm, was smoking with her friend in a park attached to National Games Village, which has residential complexes that house judges and top bureaucrats, at around 9.30pm last Saturday . One of the accused objected to this, but the duo said it was none of his concern. Strangely, the girl’s friend then left the place saying he forgot his mobile phone at home, even while the accused was standing there and making phone calls. In a few minutes, the other three accused came to the park, dragged the girl ● More on P8 into their car and sped away . wants govt to step in Beyond antiques, son treasures vow made to dad V i s h n u p r a s a d K P @ Malappuram Muhammadali with the antiques he received from his father Beerankutty Muhammadali wants to keep his part of the bargain, and is seeking the state government’s help in doing so. It was in the final months of his life that Kappekkadan Beerankutty of Manoor, Ponmala, sought a favour from his son: Protect his collection of antiques. True to his word, Muhammadali has been protecting the treasured items -- worth lakhs of rupees -- for the past eight years. Beerankutty’s collection includes the skull of a whale, palm leaf manuscripts, currencies and coins from various countries, postal stamps and covers, a 150-year-old camera, weapons from the Stone Age, a handwritten copy of Mahakavi Moyinkutty Vaidyar’s Badar Pattu, a 200-year-old veena, besides gramophone players and records, and Chinese jars. “My father was 75 years old when he passed away I have been protect. ing his collection since. Many people have offered lakhs of rupees for the various items. But I have a promise to keep. Even during his Many people have offered lakhs of rupees for the various items. But I have a promise to keep. Even during his time, my father had refused to part with the items, despite good offers Muhammadali time, my father had refused to part with the items, despite good offers,” Muhammadali said. Beerankutty began his collection during his days in Wayanad. “My father moved from Malappuram to Wayanad to sell aluminium utensils. He made good money from the business and began investing the profits in antiques. This put him under financial strain. Later, he returned to Malappuram and began to exhibit his items in a building near our house. He also organised exhibitions around the state. He used the revenue generated from the shows to purchase more antiques. This pushed him into penury again,” ● More on P4 Muhammadali said.  Modi’s post-graduation became a subject of interest as it was initially claimed he had completed his MA in Entire Political Science in 1983 with 62.3% as an external student of Gujarat University The prefix . ‘Entire’ for Political Science was what was curious. Reacting to the verdict, Kejriwal tweeted in Hindi, “Doesn’t the country even have the right to know how much the PM has studied?” The BJP hit back with its spokesperson Sambit Patra saying, “what Kejriwal is doing reflects his frustration.” ‘Cost’ of living New cess on fuel and liquor, and rise in taxes are set to squeeze your household budget further from today. A look at what gets dearer, what costs less E x p r e s s Ne w s Se r v i c e @T’Puram Girl gangraped in moving car in B’luru gill gujarat’s titan ed the Delhi University and the Gujarat University to provide information to Kejriwal on Modi’s degrees. Three months later, the Gujarat High Court stayed the CIC order after the University filed an appeal. The then CIC based his directive on a letter Kejriwal wrote to him seeking information. Pay more Govt relaxes deposit limits for post office, senior citizen schemes Guj HC quashes order on PM’s degree, fines Kejri 5% B2 /litre extra for petrol & diesel B20 /bottle for IMFL bottles priced C500-C999 for IMFL B40 /bottle above C1,000 bottles rise in building tax Late fee up from 1% to 2% Rise in one-time tax on vehicles Up to D5 lakh D5 lakh to D15 lakh D15 lakh to D20 lakh D20 lakh to D30 lakh Above D30 lakh Motorbikes up to D2 lakh DOWN More cash in your pocket as small savings rates up 1% 2% 1% 1% 1% 2% e-vehicles tax down to 5% Quarterly tax on vehicles owned by private schools for disabled reduced to C 1,000 Building tax exempted for BPL families residing in houses with area less than 30 square metres Property registration 20% rise in property registration charge Stamp duty for transfer of flats/ apartments within six months of completion up from 5% to 7% 1% rise in court fees WITHDRAWN 2% stamp duty on resale of land within three months of purchase